Linker (The Journal of Emerging Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)

Antifungal Effect of Citronella Essential Oil Against Colletotrichum capsici Causing Anthracnose Disease in Green Chili Pepper

2025-04-03T01:14:49+00:00

Green chili pepper is one of the most valuable crops in the Philippines and is extensively cultivated throughout the world due to its versatility. However, its production is affected by pests and diseases, particularly anthracnose diseases caused by Colletotrichum capsici, which is one of the most destructive pathogens of this fruit, reducing the crop’s yield and sustainability. With this, several studies explored the antimicrobial activities of plant-derived essential oils (EOs), and one of them is the citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) oil (CO), and its potential as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides. However, limited studies were conducted on the phytotoxicity level of citronella oil and its antifungal effects against anthracnose disease of green chili pepper. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the non-phytotoxic level of CO and evaluate its effects against the symptom development of anthracnose disease. A phytotoxicity test was conducted, and the in vivo antifungal potential of non-phytotoxic CO concentrations was evaluated against the disease caused by C. capsici. All tests were replicated four times with five samples per treatment, and arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The phytotoxicity test resulted that below 0.7% CO concentrations were non-phytotoxic, while 0.8% to 2% exhibited discoloration on the fruits’ epidermis. Subsequently, non-phytotoxic 0.5% to 0.7% CO inhibited the growth and development of C. capsici, implying that its effects were in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, further studies may evaluate the long-term and potential synergistic effects of CO with other natural antifungal agents for enhanced efficacy on various crops and under different conditions.

Implementation of Hybrid Machine Learning Techniques for Detection and Classification of Leaf and Stem Pests in Rice Crops

2025-04-24T08:24:30+00:00

Rice is a staple crop crucial to food security, particularly in Southeast Asia, where pest infestations cause substantial yield losses. In the Philippines, rice fields are highly susceptible to leaf and stem pests, which compromise productivity and farmers’ livelihood. Traditional pest monitoring methods are labor-intensive and error-prone. Although models like Pest-Net have reached 88.6% accuracy, limitations remain in real-time detection accuracy. This study presented a hybrid deep learning model integrating Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) for feature extraction and YOLOv5 for real-time object detection and classification. A dataset containing eight rice pest species underwent augmentation and was evaluated using standard detection metrics. The proposed model achieved a mAP50 of 96.8%, significantly outperforming Pest-Net. Integrated into a GUI, the system enables real-time detection with class labels and confidence scores. This solution enhances precision agriculture in pest monitoring. Future work includes expanding pest class coverage and optimizing the system for deployment in diverse environmental settings.

Methane Emission Inventory from Livestock and Rice Production in Cagayan Valley: Utilizing the IPCC Inventory Software

2025-04-03T01:13:24+00:00

This study evaluated methane (CH?) emissions from livestock and rice cultivation in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, using the IPCC Inventory Software and the 2006 IPCC Tier 1 methodology to address the need for localized greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories. Using data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, CH? emissions for 2020 and 2021 were quantified, analyzed, and compared with national and international inventories. Results indicated a slight decline in emissions from 44.32 Gg in 2020 to 43.53 Gg in 2021 due to enteric fermentation, and a more notable decline, from 10.04 Gg in 2020 to 5.69 Gg in 2021 in manure management emissions, likely due to improved livestock management. However, rice cultivation emissions increased from 77.81 Gg in 2020 to 80.61 Gg in 2021, suggesting the need for targeted mitigation strategies. Cattle and buffalo were the primary livestock sources of CH?, while swine contributed the most to manure management emissions. The findings emphasize the importance of accurate, region-specific GHG inventories for effective climate action. The study serves as a model for other agriculture-intensive regions seeking to quantify and reduce GHG emissions.

Allelopathic Effects of Locally Cultivated Rice Varieties on Growth and Germination of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Using Sandwich and Seed Relay Assays

2025-04-03T01:37:18+00:00

This study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of locally cultivated rice varieties in Isabela province, focusing on their effects on the germination and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The research employed two bioassay methods: the sandwich method, where crushed rice seeds were layered between agar with lettuce seeds, and the relay seeding method, which involved germinating rice seeds in petri dishes before co-culturing them with lettuce seeds. Using a Completely Randomized Design with five replications across eleven treatments, data on germination percentage, root length, shoot length, and dry weight were collected and analyzed. The results indicated significant allelopathic potential. The sandwich method revealed a notable decrease in lettuce germination, while the relay seeding method exhibited higher germination rates. The findings demonstrated that different rice varieties possess varying degrees of allelopathic potential, with NSIC Rc210H showing the most significant inhibitory effects on lettuce germination and growth.

Quad Media Integration in Agricultural Extension Services: Its Impact on Rice Production Outcomes in Region 02, Philippines

2025-05-26T02:28:28+00:00

This research assessed the use, efficacy, and recognition of different communication and extension approaches utilized by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 02 among rice farmers in Region 02, Philippines. With the descriptive quantitative design, data were collected from 846 farmer-respondents in 60 municipalities using a structured survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation were used to analyze the data gathered. Findings showed that interpersonal and print strategies, such as flipcharts, brochures, and techno-demo field days, were the most highly rated and utilized for effectiveness and preference. In comparison, digital platforms, broadcast, and mobile-based strategies were rated with limited reach and scope. Moreover, the use of communication strategies was not statistically significantly related to rice production in wet as well as dry seasons. These findings suggest that even though traditional channels of communication are still effective, digital literacy, infrastructure, and content clarity must be enhanced to promote adoption of newer platforms. The study recommends combining farmer-priority channels with improved digital support to enable inclusive, efficient, and effective agricultural extension delivery.

Performance of Dairy Cattle (Bos taurus) Fed with Mineral-Enhanced Concentrate Diet

2025-04-03T01:12:24+00:00

This study investigated the impact of mineral-enhanced diets on the performance of Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle, specifically focusing on milk yield, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Twelve cows in early lactation were assigned to four dietary treatments. Over a 30-day feeding trial, performance indicators including feed intake, milk yield, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and economic returns were assessed. Results showed that Treatment 3 (T₃) significantly outperformed the other treatments across most parameters. Cows fed with T₃ had the highest cumulative feed intake (2,090 kg), milk yield (706 L), and the most efficient FCR (2.95). Economic analysis revealed that T₃ also achieved the highest net income of ?14,790.60, return on investment of 38.09%, and feed cost efficiency of ?21.30 per liter of milk. These findings indicate that supplementing dairy rations with 0.35% minerals enhances both biological productivity and economic viability and may be recommended as an optimal feeding strategy for improving dairy production under tropical farm conditions.